Inline valley rain gutter run-off control and debris shield (inline valley piece)

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a much-needed answer to controlling excess water runoff from roofs and minimizes the overflow of a rain gutter and subsequent spillage of rainwater from a roof on the ground. It supplies an improved water flow into a rain gutter at points where the water runoff from a roof is heavier than other parts of the roof (such as between dormers) while preventing debris (such as leaves and sticks) from entering the gutter and enabling the water to flow more easily into a downspout where water can be carried away.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to drainage devices and more specifically to drainage devices for eaves troughs or gutters of a roof.

[0002] The invention provides an improved water flow into a rain gutter at points where the water runoff from a roof is heavier than other parts of the roof, while preventing debris (such as leaves and sticks) from entering the gutter and enabling the water to flow more easily into a downspout.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

[0003] Rain collecting systems for roofs on houses such as a gutter or an eaves trough have been used as standard equipment for many years. A common problem with standard uncovered rain gutters is that debris, such as leafs and small sticks, collects in such a gutter and this restricts the water from flowing feely into the downspout. Subsequently, overflow of the gutter and plugging of the drainpipe occurs.

[0004] Several prior patents address this problem by installing guards overtop of a rain gutter. Patents for rain gutter run-off controls and debris shields of various types to back at least two decades. The term rain gutter debris shield and runoff control is commonly used in the trade because it claims to eliminated or at least control the amount of debris that is filtered into the drainpipe. Usual ideas are to either design the protecting guards as a one-piece gutter or to add a protecting shield overtop of the gutter. Typical inventions of this type are shown, for example, in the following patents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3950951 Zukauskas 1976 4435925 Jeffereys 1984 4757649 Vahldieck 1988 Canadian Patent Numbers: 1328974 Stadnyk 1989 1329459 Sweers 1989 2305159 Neumann & Murdock 2001

[0005] The method of fabricating and attaching the guard, whether it is one piece of an add-on to an existing system is different in every case. They key commonality of these patents however is that each system stretches the length and width of a building or house, not allowing for specific high or low density areas at which points the water drains from a given roof. None of these patents take into account that the flow of water differs, in other words the flow is stronger or weaker at certain points at the end of a roof, when the runoff of peaks such as dormers deliver a river of water to the valley, resulting in a much heavier concentration of water runoff at certain points at the end of a roof (See drawing #1). The effect of these conventional systems, as they are exampled by the aforesaid patents, is that water may run over the guard spilling on the ground rather than being channeled into the eves-trough, creating a spill-over effect.

[0006] Though such aforesaid rain gutter runoff controls and debris shields have considerable popularity and commercial success, there has been a continuing need for improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Considered broadly, the objective of this invention is to provide a rain gutter debris shield and runoff control that compensates for the amount of water flow over specific types of gutter covers, specifically in those areas at the end of a roof that have significantly more water runoff than others. The secondary objective is to maintain the straining effect of a debris shield so that the effect or objective of this type of gutter cover is not compromised.

[0008] The types of gutter covers that this invention lends itself well to are those that are designed with a solid cover, such as the aforementioned examples of U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,649 Vahldieck and Canadian Patent 2305159 Neumann & Murdock.

[0009] The benefits of this additional “inline valley rain gutter debris shield and runoff control” is that it can be installed into most existing conventional gutter covers and subsequently brings significant cost savings to those consumers who presently own such said gutter-cover systems and wish to correct its shortcomings. This invention is therefore useful to many homeowners.

[0010] In the drawings, which form a part of this specification for the “Inline Valley Rain Gutter Debris shield and Runoff Control” (hereinafter referred to as the “Inline Valley Piece”), the following is contained:

[0011]FIG. 1 is the roof (1) of a house showing how the dormers (2) of a house with arrows (2 a) indicating the flow of rainwater (3) that subsequently is concentrated heavier in the valley (4) than on other parts of the roof (1) and the Inline Valley Piece (5) is attached to a conventional covered rain gutter assembly (6).

[0012]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a conventional covered gutter assembly (6) and shows a cut (9) made into the cover of this gutter assembly that accommodates for the Inline Valley Piece (5) to be fitted. It also shows a hemmed flange (12) that is bent upward and serves as a mounting flange, where tradesmen would decide where to drill for holes to mount the Inline Valley Piece to the appropriate connection point.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a top view of the Inline Valley Piece (5) and shows the Inline Valley Piece (5) inserted and mounted to a conventional covered gutter assembly (6). It also shows cut way slots (7) that allow the rainwater to pass trough and \upwardly indented ribs (8) and (8 a) that slow down the rainwater.

[0014]FIG. 4 is a frontal view of the Inline Valley Piece (5) and shows the Inline Valley Piece (5) inserted and mounted to a conventional covered gutter assembly (6).

[0015]FIG. 5 is a side view of the Inline Valley Piece (5) and shows the Inline Valley Piece (5) inserted and mounted to a conventional covered gutter assembly (6).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] In the particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention illustrated, the drawings in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 depict an inline valley rain gutter debris shield and runoff control in accordance with this specific invention.

[0017]FIG. 1 depicts the roof (1) of a house showing how the dormers (2) of a house with arrows (2 a) indicating the flow of rainwater (3) that subsequently is concentrated heavier in the valley (4) than on other parts of the roof (1) and the Inline Valley Piece (5) attached to a conventional covered rain gutter assembly (6).

[0018] The covered rain gutter assembly (6) is considered a standard covered assembly, whether manufactured in one piece or in separate pieces. This type of gutter system (as described in the examples of prior art) has a specific limitation. This type of invention works partially on a liquid adhesion principal. The water runoff from the cover of the debris shield adheres to the curved portion (bull nose) (10) as depicted in FIG. 5. The water runoff that adheres to the bull-nose is carried further to the underside of the deflector plate (11) and subsequently carried into the eaves trough (6).

[0019] When the flow of water from a roof (1) to the solid debris shield gutter assembly (6) becomes too extreme, the water will overshoot the bull-nose (10) and spill on the ground. A prior process in the industry for trying to eliminate this effect was to simply cut a rough hole in a section where spillage occurred and cover this hole with wire mesh screen of various gauges. The challenges with this process were that larger debris would collect on top of the screen and smaller debris would easily pass through the screen, defeating the purpose of a covered gutter system.

[0020] This invention addresses the deficiencies and the aforesaid challenge. FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional side view of a conventional covered gutter assembly (6) and shows a cut (9) made into the cover of this gutter assembly that accommodates for the Inline Valley Piece (5) to be fitted. The Inline Valley Piece (5) is a section of gutter cover and the length is dependent on the need to control the runoff.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a top view of the Inline Valley Piece (5) and shows the Inline Valley Piece (5). It also shows cut way slots in two rows (7) and (7 a) that are offset from each other to allow the rainwater to pass trough. FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 depict upwardly indented (pressed) ribs (8) and (8 a) that are part of the process for slowing down the rainwater that is coming from the top of the Inline Valley Piece after the initial fall from the end of the roof. This invention slows down the flow of extreme rainwater runoff in the following manner: The rainwater will first reach the slots (7 a) at which point some of the rainwater will filter through to the eaves trough (6). The rainwater is further slowed down by the rib (8 a) the subsequent offset slots (7) and the subsequent rib (the bull-nose) (8). Subsequently the liquid adhesion principal that is thought in some of the prior art of gutter cover systems is not compromised.

[0022] An additional benefit is found in the offset slots (7) and (7 a) that work together in minimizing the amount of debris that is filtered through into the eaves trough. The size of the opening of the slots (7) and (7 a), 1 of an inch by 1 inch, will save against most debris from entering the eaves trough, specifically the type of debris that would cause clogging of the drainpipe.

[0023] The other important aspect to this invention is that the remaining top surface of the Inline Valley Piece as depicted in FIG. 3 is smooth. Therefore larger debris is washed over the surface being carried by water. A screen, no matter what gauge that would be appropriate for this application, has a rough surface and therefore debris would stick to the screen more easily and defeat the purpose of the prior art.

[0024] Another aspect is that the Inline Valley Piece is esthetically pleasing in contrast to a screen overtop a hole. Therefore it adds to the uniformity of the entire gutter system.

[0025] This preferred design choice is practical and may vary with local conditions such as climate, whether rainfall is heavy or light and the type of debris that may be expected in a give geographic area. It may also vary on different gutter cover designs in length, shape or size, but the principal is unilateral to all applications. 

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. Exclusive properties and privileges are claimed on the slots (7) and (7 a), as depicted in FIG. 3, at which point some of the rainwater will filter through to the eaves trough (6).
 2. Exclusive properties and privileges are also claimed where the rainwater is further slowed down by the rib (8 a) and the subsequent rib (the bull-nose) (8) as depicted in FIG.
 2. 